Anatomy of the Skull and Facial Bones

Practice flashcards covering the complex anatomy of the human skull, including specific bones like the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, temporal, and maxillary, as well as cranial fossae, sutures, and associated muscles.

What are the two layers of compact bone that make up flat cranial bones called?

The external table (tavolato esterno) and internal table (tavolato interno).

What is the central part of spongy bone within flat cranial bones known as?

The diploe.

How are sutures classified according to their appearance?

Dentate sutures (saw-tooth edges), squamous sutures (angled/beveled), and harmonic sutures (smooth articular margins).

What is the anatomical point called where the two supraorbital ridges meet anteriorly?

The glabella.

What is the 'ineon' (or inion)?

The exact point of junction of the two external occipital protuberances on the median plane, meaning "alliance."

Which structure separates the skull base into the neurocranium and the splancnocranium?

The cranio-facial line (linea cranio-facciale).

What are the three components of the cranial vault (calotta) that can be identified on the external surface?

The coronal suture (between frontal and parietal bones), the sagittal suture (on the median plane), and the lambdoid suture (posterior).

What is the 'bregma'?

The point where the coronal suture crosses the sagittal suture, corresponding to the bregmatic fontanelle in infants.

What is the clinical consequence of incomplete development of the arachnoid granulations (of Pacchioni)?

An increase in cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, known as hydrocephalus.

What are the three cranial fossae of the internal base called?

The anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae.

Which structures form the lateral masses of the ethmoid bone?

Small air-filled cavities called ethmoid cells (or the ethmoid labyrinth).

What is the specific name for the thin, parchment-like lateral face of the ethmoid mass that forms the medial wall of the orbit?

The papyraceous lamina (lamina papiracea).

Which bone makes up the inferior-posterior portion of the nasal septum?

The vomer.

What gland is housed within the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone?

The pituitary gland (ipofisi).

Which three divisions of the trigeminal nerve pass through specific holes in the sphenoid's greater wing?

The maxillary nerve passes through the foramen rotundum, the mandibular nerve passes through the foramen ovale, and a branch of the mandibular nerve passes through the foramen spinosum.

What structure attaches to the frontal crest and the internal occipital crest?

The falx cerebri (falce cerebrale).

Which three cranial nerves pass through the medial portion of the jugular foramen?

The glossopharyngeal nerve, the vagus nerve, and the accessory nerve.

What are the three parts of the temporal bone?

The squamous part, the petrous part (or pyramid), and the tympanic part.

Which structures are contained within the petrous part of the temporal bone?

The organs of hearing and balance: the cochlea (chiocciola) and the semicircular canals.

Where does the nasolacrimal canal (canale naso-lacrimale) drain into?

Into the inferior nasal meatus (meato nasale inferiore) of the nasal cavity.

What are the two bones that form the hard palate (palato duro)?

Correctly, the palatine process of the maxillary bone ($2/3$ anteriorly) and the horizontal plate of the palatine bone ($1/3$ posteriorly).

What is 'palatoschisis'?

A pathology involving the failure of the palatine and maxillary bones to fuse on the midline, creating a direct communication between the oral and nasal cavities.

What is the name of the L-shaped bone whose horizontal portion forms the palate and whose vertical portion forms the nasal wall?

The palatine bone (osso palatino).

What is the 'clivus'?

The slanted bone plane formed by the fusion of the sphenoid body and the basilar part of the occipital bone, upon which the basilar artery rests.

What are the four primary muscles of mastication?

The Temporalis, Masseter, External Pterygoid, and Internal Pterygoid muscles.

Where does the masseter muscle attach on the mandible?

At the masseteric tuberosity on the external surface of the mandibular angle.

Which regional fossa is located below the temporal fossa and is bordered medially by the lateral pterygoid lamina?

The infratemporal fossa.